He Wouldn't Be God...

"He wouldn't be God if I could explain him in a 30 minute lesson."

That "excerpt" is from the lesson I am working for our College & Career Sunday School class. It has been a particularly difficult one because of the subject matter - Hell. Yep, we are learning about Hell.

This week we are tackling this question - How could a loving God send someone to Hell who has never heard the Gospel?

I wrote about this a while back, but taking it deeper has been challenging... The subject challenges and goes against all that this world teaches about God. The carnal industry will tell one that God is patient, loving, forgiving and fully acceptant of everyone. While some of those things are true God is not a "one dimensional" God - He's so much more than that!

He is a God of grace. He is also a God of justice.

He is a God of mercy. He is also a God of judgment.

Consider what the Word of God says in Isaiah 55: 6-11.

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

It is refreshing to know that at the end of all things, no matter what, God is in control. Why would God allow someone who has not heard the gospel go to Hell? We know because of man's fall in the Garden of Eden that all men are born sinners- and are held accountable to God, no matter the circumstance. While the fact that men and women who have not heard the Message are still in danger of Hell is disturbing in itself, the truth should motivate us to take the Gospel to all places and all people. Take comfort that in the end God will save His bride - He has promised it. (II Peter 3:9)

Also, let us not forget what God has told us in Isaiah. His thoughts, His plans and His decisions are far beyond our comprehension and understanding - He will prosper the Gospel where He sends it.